Detained Senator Leila de Lima said that the people presented a far more detailed report on the country’s current situation than President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).
“Bukod sa Sona ni Duterte, marapat lang pong mapakinggan ang Sona ng sambayanang Pilipino—hindi ang mga kasinungalingan ni Duterte, kundi ang tunay na estado ng Pilipinas at ng mga Pilipino (Aside from the President’s Sona, the people’s Sona should also be heard, not just Duterte’s lies but the true state of the country)” De Lima said in a statement on Monday, delivered by Fr. Albert Alejo during the United People’s SONA.
The opposition senator, who is facing drug-related charges, said the president’s brand of leadership has been about ‘shortcuts’.
“Sa loob ng dalawang taon, nakita natin ang bulok na estilo ni Duterte. Utak-diktador. Utak-dahas. Utak shortcut (For two years, we have seen Duterte’s style of leadership. It’s all about dictatorship, violence, shortcuts),” De Lima said.
“Shortcut na kampanya kontra droga na nakatuon sa pagpatay ng libu-libong mahihirap na Pilipino, kasama na ang mga batang walang kamuwang-muwang, habang pinapabayaan lang ang malalaking drug lord, at protektado ang mga kapamilya, kumpare, ka-brod at kaalyadong sangkot sa anomalya (There were shortcuts in the campaign against illegal drugs as the government is merely focused on killing thousands of poor Filipinos, including innocent children, while drug lords , relatives and allies involved in anomalies are protected),” she added.
De Lima also called out Duterte for mustering the ouster of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, and for losing control of the disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea.
“Ang pagpapatanggal kay Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, idinaan din sa shortcut gamit ang quo warranto na labag sa ating Konstitusyon (The ouster of Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno was also done through shortcut by way of the quo warranto petition that is against our Constitution),” she claimed.
“At higit pa sa shortcut, lantarang pagbalahura sa ating soberanya at mga teritoryo ang ginagawa ni Duterte. Ipinamimigay na nga ang ating mga teritoryo, pinapayagan pang mag-labas-masok lang sa Pilipinas ang mga eroplanong militar ng Tsino na hindi malinaw ang motibo (More than the shortcuts, there was the brazen disregard for our sovereignty. Duterte gave away our territories, allowed China’s military planes to get in and out of the country with no clear motive),” she added.
The president was also criticized for painting a bad image for the media, and the alleged culture of impunity under his term.
“Ginigipit ang media sa mga pagpatay sa mga mamamahayag, at pagtanggal ng lisensya ng tanggapan na nag-uulat ng makatotohanang balita (Media harassment take the form of killing journalists and taking away the licence of organizations that report truthful news),” De Lima said.
“Ultimo mga pari, pinapatay, habang ang Simbahang Katolika ay pilit ding pinatatahimik. Hindi pa nakuntento si Duterte sa kanyang kabastusan as kababaihan, pati ang Diyos ay nagawa niyang insultuhin at alipustahin (Even priests have been killed and there have been attempts to silence the Catholic church. Duterte didn’t stop there. He was abusive to women, he also insulted God),” she added, referring to the president’s “stupid God” remarks.
The senator also reminded Duterte that according to history, dictators were eventually thrown out of their positions.
“Gaya ng napatunayan na sa kasaysayan, walang diktador na nananatili sa kapangyarihan. Walang makadadaig sa lakas ng nagkakaisang sambayanan (As it has been proven in history, no dictator has stayed in power. No one can beat the force of a united citizenry),” De Lima warned.
“Ituloy natin ang laban at tapusin ang kasamaan sa ating lipunan, para sa kabutihan at kinabukasan ng bawat marangal, maka-Diyos, at makatarungang Pilipino (Let us continue the fight against evil in our society for the future of noble and god-fearing Filipinos),” she said. /ee